Serving table



Aug. 10, 1937. E. J. SQHWABE 2,089,436

' SERVING TABLE Filed Nov. 21, 1955 a INVENTOR BY ZVA flw-wATTORNEY Patented Aug. 10, 1937 Ul'fEDSTATES PATENT oFFlca SERVING TABLE Edwin J. Schwabe, New York, N. Y.

. 'Application November 21, 1935, Serial No. 50,807

" 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a serving table or caddy wagon.

The main object of the invention is to provide new and useful features in connection with serving tables of the type as described in my Patent No. 1,963,594, patented June 19, 1934.

The device of my patent referred to, and the type of serving table to which this invention relates, comprises atray support having folding or collapsible frame members and one or more trays adapted to be mounted thereon.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means, such as a handle bar, for properly spacing the frame members When in extended position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a handlebar which, while it functions to properly space the frame members when in extended position, may be folded when the frame members are folded so that the support may be collapsed into compactform. V

A further object of the invention is to provide means, such as a handle bar, which shall hold the frame members firmly in place in their 5 extended position thereby causing the wagon to be as firm as if permanently nailed or otherwise 1 secured in such position, notwithstanding the frame members are collapsible as referred to.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible serving table of the class described with a handle bar whereby the use of the wagon is facilitated inasmuch as it may thereby be readily lifted over a carpet or door sill and may be more readily pushed over the floor.

In my prior patent above referred to the trays engage with the collapsible frame members to hold them in distended position. There is nothing in the device of that patent however to set the frame members in proper relative position for the placing of the trays thereon in interlocking position. The result is that the frame members may be extended to too great a degree or an insuflicient degree so that when it is attempted to place a tray thereon the parts may become jammed or marred by rubbing against each other.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for spacing the distended frame members in proper relation to receive the interlocking trays whereby the frame members will be accurately brought to the right degree of extension to receive the interlocking trays so that the trays may be placed in position without jamming, rubbing or marring of the parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spacing means as just described which shall also be adapted to function conveniently as a handle for operating the device.

Other and ancillary objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing which illus-.

trates the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a serving table embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, partly broken away; and

Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of the collapsible, or foldable tray support, in collapsed or folded condition.

Referring to the drawing, the tray support comprises two separate frame members, I and 2, pivotally connected together on a vertical axis as at 33.

The frame member I comprises a pair of legs 4 and 5 to which are secured the upper and lower cross members 6 and 'l'. The frame member 2 comprises the legs 8 and 9 connected by the upper cross member l0 and the lower cross member ll. Each of the frame members comprising the tWo legs connected together with the two cross members is generally rectangular in form and is capable of swinging with respect to each other on the pivots 3-3 from an extended or tray supporting condition as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to a collapsed condition as illustrated in Fig. 3.

With reference to Fig. 3 it is to be noted that when the trays are removed from their position upon the carrying frame and the frame is collapsed, the two trays may be laid flat against each other and nested in the space provided between the legs and cross members of the collapsed supporting frame, thereby greatly economizing in the amount of space required for the storing of all of the parts constituting the table, the trays l2 and I3, as in my prior patent above referred to, resting upon the cross members when the support is in extended position and may be lifted therefrom at will. The trays, as in said patent, are each provided with handle members I 4 extending along their opposite end walls IE but terminating at their opposite ends short of the ends of said wall parts 15 so as to define four notches or seats l6, one at each end of each handle and between the end surfaces ll of the handles and the adjacent angularly disposed surfaces I8 of the end wall parts [5, said notches or seats being adapted to receive and fit around the respective adjacent legs of the carrying frame. The trays thus interlock with the legs of the supporting frame members so as to oppose any relative swinging movement of the frame members about the pivots 3 and the frame members will thus be held against any collapse or further extension. At the same time the tray will be held against accidental displacement with relation to the frame members.

As, in articles of the class to which this invention relates are ordinarily desired tobe wheeled about from place to place, each of the legs may be provided with a castor or roller 19.

In order to realize the advantages of the present invention the legs 4 and 8, one on each of the frame members, are extended to a greaterheighth than the others and to one of the elevated leg portions is pivoted a handle bar 20, the other end of the handle bar being detachably secured to the other elevated leg portion when the supporting frame is in extended position to hold the parts in a proper condition of extension, but which may be disengaged from the last mentioned leg portion to permit the collapse or folding of the frame members, the handle member itself folding down along the legs so as not to interfere with the compact collapsed condition of the supporting frame.

To refer to the details shown in the illustrative form set forth in the drawing, to provide: for the mounting of the handle bar there is secured to the outer portions (when the frame is extended) of the legs 1 and 8 blocks 22 and 23 each of which has an angular notch adapted to receive a corner of the leg, the opposite (outer) face of each block being flat and the outer flat surfaces of the two blocks being in substantially the same plane. This provides broad flat surfaces upon which the handle bar 2| may be accurately pivoted and secured This handle bar is, by means of a pivot 24, pivotally secured upon the flat face of the block 22 and adjacent its other end is provided with a slot 25 within which may enter a screw stud 26 projecting from the fiat surface of the block 23. This stud may carry a wing nut 21 which may be screwed against the handle 2! to securely clamp it to the block 23 or, by turning in the opposite direction, the wing nut may be unscrewed to release the bar when it may be removed from the stud and the frame members collapsed.

It will be seen that with the frame members extended and the handle bar 2| secured in position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the frame will be firmly held as if the parts. were permanently nailed together and the right degree of extension will be assured so that the trays may be readily placed in or removed from position without jamming or marring of the parts. At the same time the handle may be detached at one end and folded about its pivot so that the frame, the trays having been removed, may be collapsed or folded into the position as shown in Fig. 3 where it is most compact and occupies the least possible space. Not only does the handle bar accomplish the objects as stated but at the same time it provides means readily grasped by an operator to be employed in pushing the wagon over the floor or lifting it over thresholds or the like, and its functioning is enhanced by reason of the handle being mounted upon the elevated portions of the 'frame as described.

While the invention has been illustrated in what are considered its best applications, it may be embodied in other structures without departing from its spirit and is not therefore limited to the, structures shown in the drawing.

What I claim is:

1. A support adapted to receive a tray to form a serving table comprising in combination a tray carrying frame, the carrying frame consisting of two frame members crossing each other and pivotally connected together so that they may be readily collapsed or extended at will about a vertical axis substantially at the vertical center line of the table, and a handle bar adapted to be folded substantially parallel to said frame members when they are in collapsed condition, said handle bar being secured to and holding the ends of said frame members at a fixed distance apart, said handle bar being detachably secured to at least one of said frame members, said frame members each having an elevated portion extending to a greater vertical heighth than adjacent portions of said frame members, said handle bar being secured to said elevated portions of said frame members and supporting wheels for said frame.

2. A support adapted.- to receive a tray to form a serving table comprising in combination a tray carrying frame, the carrying frame consisting of two frame members crossing each other and pivotally connected together so that they may be readily collapsed or extended at will about a ver-. tical axis substantially at the vertical center line of the table, each of said frames having two legs at its ends and a handle bar secured to a leg upon each of said frame members and holding such legs at a fixed distance apart, a leg at the end of each of said frame members having an elevated portion extending to a greater heighth than the leg at the other end of the member and a handle bar secured to said elevated portions of said frame members and supporting wheels for said frame.

EDWIN J. SCHWABE. 

